"Down to your knees, man, an' make no outcry, an' see you repeat
the words carefully, as I speak them, or you go home in tar and
feathers."
They could hear the sound of a scuffle, and, shortly, the phrases
of a prayer spoken by one voice and repeated by another.
They were far back in the gloom, but could hear each word of that
which follows: "O God, forgive me--I am a liar and a hypocrite--I
have the tongue of scandal and deceit--I have robbed the poor--I
have defamed the good--and, Lord, I am sick--with the rottenness of
my own heart. And hereafter--I will cheat no more--and speak no
evil of any one--Amen."
"Now, go to your home, Riley Brooke," said the voice, "an'
hereafter mind your tongue, or you shall ride a rail in tar and
feathers."
They could see the crowd scatter, and some passed near them,
running away in the darkness.
"Stoop there an' say not a word," the tinker whispered, crouching
in the grass.
When all were out of hearing, they started for the little shop.
"Hereafter," said Darrel, as they walked along, "God send he be
more careful with the happiness of other men. I do assure thee,
boy, it is bitter, bitter, bitter."
XXVIII
Darrel at Robin's Inn
Trove had much to help him,--youth, a cheerful temperament, a
counsellor of unfailing wisdom.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230